Thinking of quitting after appraisals? Rethink

While a survey shows 62 per cent want to switch jobs after appraisals, recruiters caution against making the move in a jiffy

Apeksha Kaushik, TimesJobs.com

A TimesJobs.com survey of employees has showed that 62 per cent of the participants want to switch jobs after appraisals.

Among them, 64 per cent said dissatisfaction from appraisal triggered the urge to switch jobs. For the rest, it was the opportunity of encashing on the salary hike.

Appraisals bring mixed reactions from employees. Some get satisfactory hikes while others don’t. This dissatisfaction often leads to high attrition rates.

“Employees look out for an opportunity mostly to increase the compensation after appraisal,” Sunil Goel, MD, GlobalHunt, an executive search firm, told TimesJobs.com.

While senior professionals are guarded when deciding on job change, entry and mid-level candidates are quick to make the move, he said.

“In the current dynamic market wherein fluctuations in the economy and business segments are too high, senior professionals may not consider post appraisal period as a good time to change,” said Goel.

However, people at entry and mid level are quick to jump ship for better pay packages, he said.

Is it the right time?

Not really, say industry experts. Leaving an organisation only because of an unsatisfactory salary raise can be foolish. More crucial factors must be assessed before making the move.

“If an employee is performing well in his/her current organisation and the organisation is also growing, then one should not leave. Employees must understand that it could be a big career risk to leave a job/organisation that is offering growth and recognition for an unknown territory that is full of uncertainty,” Mayank Chandra, managing partner, Antal International, an international recruitment company, told TimesJobs.com.

Goel said many a times, making a move without carefully evaluating the new opportunity might hamper one’s career. “You may get a better hike but justifying the same in a new company/work environment can be difficult,” he said.

When to make the move?

An employee should ideally consider leaving a job when growth is stuck in terms of role, responsibility and compensation, Goel said.

Chandra agrees. “Whenever an employee hits a plateau in the current organisation and feels his/her contribution is not substantial in terms of growth of business, the person should either upgrade skills and move to the next level or move to another organisation,” he said.

“A professional must evaluate from a long-term perspective while moving from the current organization which has appreciated his or her efforts and recognized him/her hoping for continued efforts,” asserted Goel.